Portable enclosure



June 10, 1941'.

J. BLANK PORTABLE ENCLOSURE Filed 0012-. 25, 1940.

2 Sheets-Sheet l A iiorney June 10, 1941. J. BLANK I PORTABLE ENCLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1940- A iiomey Patented June 10, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PORTABLE ENCLOSURE John Blank, Boerne, Tex.

Application October 25, 1940, Serial No. 362,867

1 Claim.

This invention relates to portable enclosures for dance pavilions, skating rinks, dining gardens, and other establishments and has for the primary object the provision of a fixed floor and a movably mounted enclosure capable of affording complete protection to the fioor and the persons thereon against bad weather, and which may be easily and quickly moved to a position of completely uncovering the fioor without disturbing anything thereon, so that the patrons or persons on the floor may have the full benefit of an out-of-doors establishment when the weather is suitable therefor.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and rrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a portable enc osure constructed in accordance with my invention and showing by dotted lines a position that the enclosure may take for uncovering a fixed floor.

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the device and showing the means of moving the same over a suitable track.

Figure 3 is an end view illustrating the device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top plan view illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Figure 6 is a side elevation illustrating the modified form of the invention positioned to uncover the fixed floor.

Figure 7 is a top plan view illustrating one of the sections of the modified form of the device and the means of imparting movement thereto.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating one of the roller arrangements for the support of the device on a rail of a track.

Referrin in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a relatively fixed floor supported by a suitable foundation (not shown) and on which persons may congregate for skating, dancing or dining. Associated with the floor upon opposite sides thereof are rails 6 forming a part of a track I. The track 1 extends for a considerable distance from one end of the floor and mounted for movement over the track is an enclosure 8 in the form of vertical walls 9 'and a roof Iii. The enclosure may be of any suitable design and secured to the side sills ll thereof are spaced plates 12 forming journals for rollers l3 that ride the rails 6. The plates 12 are arranged in pairs and the outermost plates are extended and bent at right angles, as shown at M, to engage under the rails, the purpose of which is to prevent the enclosure from being blown away in heavy winds and the like.

Connected to one end of the enclosure is a draft cable [6 and the latter may be connected to any suitable draft means for imparting movement of the enclosure 8 over the track for completely uncovering the floor. In this instance the draft cable is shown as connected to a winch ll. However, it is to be understood that any type of motive power may be employed.

While I have shown that the enclosure may be constructed of a single unit in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, an enclosure l-l' may be employed consisting of sections l8 and I9 to which draft cables 20 are connected. The draft cables when connected with power means may act to draw the sections l8 and I9 apart to uncover the floor. It is to be understood that the sections 18 and I9 of the enclosure are supported on the track 1 and in this instance the track is shown as extending in opposite directions from the ends of the floor. The design of the enclosure may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. By the employment of 7 an enclosure of the character described and shown it is very apparent that it will greatly facilitate the entertainment of persons in that the persons can be protected against bad weather and given full benefit of good weather. A device of this kind may be used for many purposes other than that specified, such as sanatoriums or hospitals where it is desired to afford people complete protection in bad weather and to give them the benefit. of sunshine in good weather, still providing a permanent and substantial fioor on which to rest.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a device of the character described, a fixed floor, a track associated with said floor and including spaced rails, an enclosure for said floor, spaced plates secured to the enclosure, rollers journaled on said spaced plates and riding the rails whereby the enclosure may be moved to cover and uncover the floor, certain of said plates being bent angularly to engage under the rails, cable connected to the enclosure, and a winch located at one end of the track and having the cable connected thereto for winding the cable thereon to move the enclosure over the track to uncover the floor.

JOHN BLANK. 

